Well, parents, are you ready for another school year?  Hopefully, your child's education didn't stop on the last day of school, but has continued all summer in a multitude of ways.  Every parent has the God-given obligation to educate their children.  Buying school supplies and a new wardrobe is not enough.  Nor is it enough to put them on the bus, see them off to school, and let the teacher do the work of educating your child.  Schools of your choice, teachers and administration are around to helpyou fulfill your responsibility so that your child can take his or her place in the world. 
     We read a lot about the "failure" of some of our schools to educate kids in basic skills.  If schools are going to be great schools, parents have to be involved as positive partners with teachers and the administration.  Don't wait until your child is failing a subject to talk to a teacher.  Talk to the teacher, from time to time, to see how your child is doing.  Remember, you are a partner with the teacher... nagging a teacher or telling them how to do their job is not the way to be a partner.  The teacher is there to help you do your "vocation" of educating your child.  Working together is the secret of success for the child.
     Even if you don't agree with a teacher or the school administration, you should always talk respectfully of these adults in the presence of your child.  We can disagree with others without being mean, nasty or vulgar.  Teachers are working with a classroom full of students.  Be positive and find out what you can do at home as the teacher's partner. 
     Healthy parents have healthy expectations at home for their children.  Find out from the teacher at the beginning of the year what expectations they have for your student/child.  If they have expectations of homework, great!  Studying at home should be a normal experience.  You are the other half of the teaching team.  It is your responsibility to help with homework, but don't do it!  Education should come first, before extra-curriculars, television, computer games, etc.  Set the ground rules of education in your house.  Teach your child; it's your joyful responsibility.
     Get involved in the school of your children.  Make time to volunteer for different events and activities.  Cooperate as best you can with teachers.  We need to have more Dads around.  What can be more important than the education of your daughter(s)/son(s)??? Great schools are those that have great parental support and involvement.  If your child sees the teacher and you as a team, that will make a deep impression on them... hopefully.
     To educate a child is an awesome responsibility from God.  Schools exist to help you do your part as parent... they can help, but they cannot and should not do it all  alone.  This year, think of home and school as a partnership put together by God for children.

Fr. Bill